Queensland Rifle Association / National Rifle Association of Australia Awards 2025
Final day of King’s Competition and Prize awards, 2025, Belmont QRA.
The 1901 photo was at Toowong. Over the years the clubs have moved around substantially. After Toowong, shooting moved to Enoggera – now the Barracks.
The 1921 photo shows G Shaw top left and his son Harold top right. They were absent that day.
Harold was in the small bore competitions and competed with his father on fishing competitions.
The honours boards show the 1899 and 1900 wins for George Shaw.
There is a photo of my father’s donated “George Shaw Memorial Match” trophy – 1968 to 1978, from George Shaw Sports Store.
Please see my gallery for George Shaw snr for more photography.
King’s Prize Award 2025
Video File
King's Prize Ceremony
Collage from the final day of competitions & Awards Ceremony
Many thanks to NRAA President Bruce Scott for the invitation to attend.
My great grandfather George Shaw won the Queens Prize in 1899 and 1900 just prior to Federation and the new King in 1901.
Who would have thought I’d be seeing part of the finals and the awards presentation due to George’s competitions 125 years ago – not to mention meeting everyone, and having a bucket of the best hot chips.
Belmont is a very large complex, retaining its continuity and sense of space for what Brisbane is and has been like for many years.
A financial responsibility underpins the complex, which needs to remain solid as it faces modern challenges to continue its distinct contributions to a healthy and vibrant Australian sporting community, and its ties to the International sports of diverse shooting categories and types, including archery for both men and women. These are dedicated and committed sports. Yet, the character of the people involved is with humility and a strong, genuine sense of community towards all.
Australia has played an historic and ongoing responsible role in the use of firearms which many of the modern public may not be aware of. These competitions drive connections between the military and the public with ongoing technical development and up-to-date use of firearms, in this case focused on sporting achievements and activity. This work not only includes rifles and pistols of different types, but ammunition advancements and optical equipment.
It was a world our previous generations grew up with. I have had some awareness of this due to the retail store passed down from my great grandfather George Shaw, to his son Harold William, and then to my father George Robert Shaw. Our society has had the privilege to diversify its interests in sports, and watch how they evolve. So, within this freedom and capability we should consciously support and include the field of shooting with its competitions and advancements. This and other fields – such as music and the arts – are what defines structure for a healthy society and nation. If these vanish or disintegrate over time, we damage the soul of a nation.
The Belmont shooting complex is the largest of its type in the Southern Hemisphere and will be part of our hosting to the 2032 Olympic Games.
Many activities and responsibilities surround the Belmont complex. This cannot be understated. In the same traditions of my great grand father who won the Queen’s Prize (it may be referred to as the King’s Prize) in 1899 at the age of 24, and the following year, so too we enjoy seeing the achievements of young sports men and women today who are winning world class competitions among the best in the world – as seen today on the 19th of October 2025 with two of the prize winners being of age 20 and 21.
Belmont is a good reality check with our past and present, and a good experience.
